Miscellaneous CommentsOn the face of it this looks like a good project, a café at the City Road Basin lock will add to local gaiety.I’m all in favour although I’d be surprised if it stayed open until 11 p.m. – does that fit with some standard opening hours rules? Well, yes, [I'm in favour] up to a point and with reservations. There is no doubt that a cafe would be appreciated by towpath users, and there are bench seats a little further along. However, this part of the towpath is heavily used by commuting cyclists - nearly always going fast because of descending on the ramp from Danbury Street, or peddling hard to get up impetus to ascend. I think a cafe would inevitably lead to conflicts at this location and, as we know from Martin Klute's remarks at the last meeting of Friends of Regent's Canal, cyclists are "resisting further chicanes without further development of a parallel route." The other reservation is about litter - again Martin admitted that the towpath bins are overflowing, partly because boat owners use them for their rubbish - a cafe, and its users, would need special facilities for disposing of paper cups, packs of sandwiches etc. I would welcome the extra pedestrians this would attract. They will help to slow down the cyclists, and it might even strengthen the case for this being a no cycling zone (or a 4mph zone). Don't forget there's a water point at this site, for boaters to fill up their tanks How about a condition that all their daily supplies and waste should be transported by boat? Just one other concern is that the cafe will disturb the lives of residents in the care home opposite if it intends to open late past dusk. These residents mainly suffer from dementia and any disturbance would interfere with their lives. |
Comments from a Hackney Resident who lives opposite a CafeThe trouble with eateries/cafes etc on the towpath are:1. Tables and chairs spilling onto the towpath and causing conflict between the customers of the eateries and the cyclists/dog walkers/walkers/runners. 2. Restaurants need to have somewhere for smokers to puff away - typically this happens on the towpath so what with 1. above things can get crowded. 3. Sound travels over water. For the time being we have managed to ensure that the licence granted to our local restaurant (on the other side of the canal) demands that table and chairs are indoors by 6.00pm. The place has to shut its doors at 9.00pm (so we don't get tons of noise emanating from inside the restaurant) and the whole place closes at 10.30 (I think) with no putting out of bottles or refuse until the following morning. All these times a bit fiercer on Sundays and Bank Holidays. |
Friends of Regent's CanalFor the attention of the Case Officer at Islington Planning.Your ref: Planning Application P112783 (British Waterways Lock Up, City Basin Canal Lock) I am writing on behalf of the Friends of Regent's Canal, to manage your expectations about public reaction to the above planning application. Please do not assume that you will get unconditional public support for this application. I intend to raise this topic at our public meeting on 15th February. I am sure that a lot of the Friends will appreciate the concept of a family-friendly cafe at this location, provided that it does not interfere with the calm pace of life on the canal. After all, this is consistent with what people expect to see at a National Trust site. However, I think that many people will be perplexed by the modern design, which includes external cladding and a large rectangular window in an otherwise unspoilt stretch in a conservation area. My personal view is that this structure would not look out of place in an IKEA showroom but it looks highly inconsistent with all the other buildings that have existed on the Noel Road side of the canal for a very long time. Somehow, this inappropriate part of the overall design seems to cancel out any community benefits offered by the opening up of these buildings, and I would like to know why it is not possible to retain (or reconstruct) a traditional brick facade with a pitched roof. Aside from the aesthetics, I would like to comment on some practical issues. There is a water point at this location, and regular boaters choose to fill up their tanks at this lock. Any users of the seating area outside the cafe must accept that the boaters take priority in this shared space. I am confused by the opening hours on the application form (7am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm Sunday). These are not typical daylight hours and I do not think that we should be encouraging anybody to use this unique part of the "countryside" after dusk. I trust that there are no plans for any alcoholic licence on this site. Not only would this be inappropriate at an operational lock but it would also create unwarranted competition with the existing public houses within a few hundred yards. If permission is granted for a cafe at this location then I recommend two permanent conditions. Firstly, a restraint on any neon signs or conspicuous commercialisaton. Secondly, a serious and sustained effort to use the canal rather than the roads, on a day-to-day basis. for the transportation of all supplies and waste. If you require any explanation of the above, then please do not hesitate to contact me, because this is absolutely not a normal planning application and I can put you in touch with some experts within the long standing canal community who can expand on the less obvious issues that you need to be aware of. Best wishes, Ian Shacklock Chair, Friends of Regent's Canal Thursday 9th February 2012 |
Regents NetworkComments from Del Brenner (Regent's Network) |
A boater's viewpoint'Canals were built for Boats'There is a boaters' water point below the City Road Lock in the vicinity of the proposed cafe. Would a water hose cause a trip hazard? If there must be a cafe it should be in keeping with the existing architecture of the Regent's Canal. Regards John Shacklock, Secretary, Lee & Stort Branch, IWA |
Sandwich Barge and London BoatersFor the attention of Dean Wooding - Case Officer at Islington PlanningI am writing on behalf of The London Boaters Network and local community who frequent this stretch of Regents Canal. We strongly oppose this planning application for the following reasons. The local community were not made aware of these plans by form of a public notice on or around the building in question and did not therefore have a chance to oppose. British Waterways did not advertise this ' Tender ' publicly and intended to 'get rid' of it before they gained charitable status as the Canal and River Trust, which should have involved a community consultation prior to its 'change of use'. This location, as you are aware, is in the Duncan Terrace/Colebrooke Row conservation area which is part of The Blue Ribbon Network - The Mayor's London Plan of which Boris Johnson is a very close neighbour. It is also included in The Regents Canal Action Plan devised by British Waterways. This is one of BW's last pieces of heritage along the Regents Canal and should not be 'bought-up' by yet another property developer. It should however be left to the local community and managed as a Charitable Trust for community co-hesion projects, workshops and to facilitate services for visiting boaters as well as a navigational and tourist information point. As stated in the Duncan Terrace/Colebrooke Row guidelines:- 3.3 Planning permission will not be granted to change, expand or intensify uses which would harm the character of the conservation area. 3.4 Council recognises that often the best use for a building is that which it was designed for and will seek to retain public houses, shops and workshops in appropriate use which will not diminish their special interest. 3.8 New buildings should conform to the height, scale and proportion of existing buildings in the area. This planning application contravenes all three of the above guidelines and should not be granted. Its intensified use states that it will be open from 7am till 11pm Monday to Friday - this is not a day time cafe as described in its proposal. The roof would be raised above the grade 2 wall adjoining Hanover school and the wood cladding does not 'fit' to the design of neighbouring or existing buildings. Its use is primarily a cafe and not a workshop which was its intended purpose. I agree that some catering facilities would help in managing a workshop and community project but nothing in this plan will benefit our community and nothing regarding the latter has been suggested. The main aim of 'The Regents Canal Action Plan' is ..''.to prepare a comprehensive and carefuly targeted document that aims to SECURE BENEFITS and improvements for LOCAL COMMUNITIES and the range of CANAL USERS by focusing on the Regents Canal as a strategic recreational resource passing through the heart of London.'' USERS 3 3.7 COMMUNITY GROUPS/ COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS/ SCHOOLS 4.3 REDUCING THE FEAR OF CRIME state the following Central to delivering appropriate improvements throughout the canal is the need to consult and involve the local community and schools....a key objective will be to further develop Friends of Regents Canal for each borough involving local interest and user groups alongside representatives from the community.....to ENSURE the aspects of community safety extend beyond the waterway wardens concept to areas along Regents Canal, particularly where significant neighbourhood renewal initiatives border the canal. Reducing the fear of crime on the Regents Canal can only be achieved by including the communities living near and using the canals. The recommendations and initiatives to alleviate fear of crime will also contribute to regeneration, community development, equality and opportunity. The Kings Cross Partnership and Planning in Islington also offer a chance for local people to re-establish a sense of ownership of the canal. Again, this planning application has not taken into consideration any of the above guidelines and contravenes the aims of The Regents Canal Action Plan for the personal gain of the developer. Absolutely nothing in this planning application is for the benefit of the community or users of the canal and should be disqualified and dismissed imminently. A new 'plan' should be revised for this National Heritage building which is an ideal base suitable for community co-hesion projects and managed as a Charitable Trust for the community and by the community. Furthermore, on Ecology, for the Regents canal Action Plan, it states..''The entire London canal network, including the Regents Canal, has been designated a 'Site of Metropolitan Importance' for nature conservation as a result of its intrinsic value for wildlife and because it provides public access to nature; the latter is particularly important where canals pass through inner city boroughs. BW are committed to preparing the Canal Habitat Action Plan for the London Biodiversity Action Plan and their strategic recommendations are 'to work in partnership with adjacent landowners/managers to enhance biodiversity on and adjacent to the canal corridor and use BW's Biodiversity action Plan initiatives to influence ALL projects on the canal from regeneration to everyday management.' Islingtons Ecological summary stipulates that as a borough with little open space is keen to promote strategic recreational opportunities for residents and initiate eco projects across boroughs with links to local schools,[Hanover is adjacent to this building],with Mile End Park Ecology Centre and the canal as the focus. This should be a long term community resource that provides information and creates opportunities for social inclusion and education. Again, this planning application has none of the above in its proposal and should not be permitted or passed. The green space that links the towpath with Hanover wall is a mere dumping ground for dog faeces and rubbish. This important wildlife corridor is home to gypsy wort, buddleia, carradian fleabone, common skullcap, lesser hairy willow-herb, hemlock warter dropwort and the introduced connate buk-marigold..harts-tongue and male ferns can also be found entering the tunnel. Therefore this area should encourage wildlife and educate those living in the area by way of growing projects and educational workshops with Hanover school and Mile end Park as part of an educational programme for the local community and heritage of Regents. Potential partners for such a project are London Ecology Unit, Mile End Park Partnership, London Boroughs, British Waterways, English Nature, Friends of Regents Canal and myself as a long standing member of this community! I look forward to your reply and hope that we can keep this part of Islington for the people. A place where they can come together to meet and educate each other of the canal's role in the development of London and all the other issues discussed above. There are enough plush cafes in the immediate vicinity and this particular building should be a low-key establishment for all that share the canal. Thank you for your time and consideration on this matter and if there is anything further that you would like to discuss please do not hesitate in contacting me. Kind regards Lorraine Fox www.thesandwichbarge.co.uk lorraine@thesandwichbarge.co.uk |
Weak PublicityClick here to see the publicity about this application in the local press. |